The Raptors are on their best run since Dwane Casey took over, and the coach has noticed a bit of a buzz in town, but is not letting it go to his head.

"We're still 12-20, I'm not jumping up and down and throwing snowballs," he said before the Raptors took on the Sacramento Kings on Friday.

"That's great, that says something about our fans. I think we have the best fans in the NBA just because of what this franchise has been through, with the lack of playoff success, championship success, but the fans have stuck with this organization through the years and that's huge. That says something. That should make us that much more hungry and determined to build a winner here and that's what we're trying to do."

Casey understands that the NHL lockout has something to do with the attention his team has received so far.

"I'm not blind to the fact that we're in a hockey city. I've been at the other end at the University of Kentucky which is in a football conference, but you're a basketball school," he said.

"Some of you would probably be at hockey games tonight if we had hockey. I understand that."